Smerdon charged over links to Oliver case

The fall-out from the Damien Oliver betting scandal has continued with Racing Victoria stewards charging leading trainer Robert Smerdon with acting in a detrimental manner to the image of racing.

Late on Wednesday night Smerdon was given official notice that he'd been charged under Australian Rule of Racing AR 175.

Smerdon would not comment but it is understood that he would be fighting the charge.

The penalty can range from a fine to suspension or even disqualification.

Stewards have alleged that Smerdon received money from former AFL footballer Mark Hunter and he then passed the proceeds of a winning bet by Oliver of appropriately $11,000 to Oliver at an arranged meeting point at his stables.

Stewards are alleging that at no time Smerdon inquired as to what the money was for when giving it to Oliver.

Last month Oliver was disqualified for eight months and suspended for a further two months after having a $10,000 bet on rival horse Miss Octopussy at Moonee Valley in October 2010.